Nonlinear dynamics and snap-through regimes of a bistable buckled beam excited by an electromagnetic Laplace force

We study the nonlinear forced dynamics of a bistable buckled beam. Depending on forcing frequency and amplitude, we observe three different regimes: (i) small intra-well oscillations in neighborhood one equilibria, (ii) transient snap-through ending into oscillations, (iii) persistent dynamic snap-through. build experimentally numerically phase-diagrams determining amplitude leading to each regimes. The experiments leverage an original setup based use electromagnetic Laplace forces. controlled flow electric current through metallic beam immersed field is at origin electromechanical coupling. This non-invasive excitation system allows us easily tune amplitude. results our numerical model, weakly geometrical approximation three-mode Galërkin expansion for space discretization, are excellent agreement with experimental findings. show that higher-order modes, often neglected modal models literature, have major influence dynamics.